ST. LOUIS – For their efforts in helping Missouri State close out the regular season with an impressive 55-24 win at Dixie State on Saturday, Bears' kicker Jose Pizano and running back Kevon Latulas have been recognized as Missouri Valley Football Conference Players of the Week.
 
Pizano is the MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week, and Latulas is the MVFC Newcomer of the Week.
 
In his return to his home state, Pizano (K, Lehi, Utah) became just the second Missouri State kicker to boot 20 field goals in a season and extended his streak to 13 straight made field goals as part of his 13-point contribution at Dixie State. Pizano cappped a pair of first-half scoring drives with field goals from 39 and 25 yards, respectively. He was also 7-for-7 on extra points to match a career scoring high. He also averaged 64.0 yards on seven kickoffs with five touchbacks and eclipsed 100 points on the season (102), just one shy of MSU's single-season scoring record by a kicker.

Latulas (RB, Port Arthur, Texas) rushed for 162 yards on just eight carries with two scores to pace Missouri State's 297-yard rushing outburst at Dixie State. He averaged an amazing 20.2 yards per carry and ripped off touchdown runs of 68 and 7 yards on back-to-back possessions in the second quarter to help the Bears put away the Trailblazers before the half. The 162-yard effort by Latulas marked a career high, his second 100-yard rushing game of the season, and the most yards by a Bears running back since 2018.

It marks the second career MVFC honors for both players. Pizano was named MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week on March 27 for his "walk-off," game-winning field goal against Southern Illinois. Latulas was named MVFC Performer of the Week honors on Sept. 29, 2020 for the Missouri State game at UCA last fall.

Also recognized by the MVFC on Sunday were Youngstown State tailback Jaleel McLaughlin (Offensive Player of the Week) and UNI linebacker Riley Van Wyhe (Defensive Player of the Week).
 
The Bears have now racked up 14 weekly conference honors this season, a new high-water mark for the program.
 
The Bears (8-3) received an at-large bid to the 2021 NCAA FCS Football Playoffs and will host UT Martin on Saturday, Nov. 27 at 3 p.m. (Central) in the opening round. The MVFC runners-up will host their first NCAA Playoff game at Plaster Stadium since 1990.
 
Tickets for the NCAA Playoff game go on sale Monday at 10 a.m. at the Old Missouri Bank Box Office at JQH Arena, (417) 836-7678, or at MissouriStateBears.com.